Weak Interaction Contributions in Light Muonic Atoms

TL;DR

This paper calculates weak interaction effects on hyperfine splitting and Lamb shift in light atoms, revealing specific cases where corrections are suppressed or vanish, enhancing understanding of weak forces in atomic physics.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed calculations of weak interaction contributions to hyperfine and Lamb shifts in light muonic and electronic atoms, highlighting cases of suppression and null effects.

Findings

Weak correction to hyperfine splitting is zero in deuterium.

Weak correction to the Lamb shift in hydrogen is significantly suppressed.

Calculations clarify the role of weak interactions in atomic energy level shifts.

Abstract

Weak interaction contributions to hyperfine splitting and Lamb shift in light electronic and muonic atoms are calculated. We notice that correction to hyperfine splitting turns into zero for deuterium. Weak correction to the Lamb shift in hydrogen is additionally suppressed in comparison with other cases by a small factor $(1-4\sin^2\theta_W)$.